Hijuelas | |
|---|---|
   Hijuelas Location in Chile | |
| Coordinates:32°47′55″S71°08′38″W / 32.79861°S 71.14389°W /-32.79861; -71.14389 | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Valparaíso |
| Province | Quillota |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Alcalde | José Saavedra |
| Area | |
• Total | 267.2 km2 (103.2 sq mi) |
| As of 2002 | |
| Elevation | 257 m (843 ft) |
| Population (2012 Census)[2] | |
• Total | 15,876 |
| • Density | 59.42/km2 (153.9/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 8,196 |
| • Rural | 7,818 |
| Demonym | Hijuelense |
| Sex | |
| • Men | 8,161 |
| • Women | 7,853 |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT[3]) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST[4]) |
| Area code | country 56 +city 33 |
| Website | Municipality of Hijuelas |
Hijuelas (Spanish pronunciation:[iˈxwelas]) is acity andcommune in theQuillota Province of centralChile's fifthregion ofValparaíso.
Hijuelas spans an area of 267.2 km2 (103 sq mi)[2] in Chile'sZona Central. It is known as The Capital of the Flowers (Spanish:La Capital de los Flores) as it is the largest producer of flowers in Chile, contributing more than 49% of the nation's total production.
According to the 2002census of theNational Statistics Institute, Hijuelas has 16,014 inhabitants (8,161 men and 7,853 women). Of these, 8,196 (51.2%) lived inurban areas and 7,818 (48.8%) inrural areas. The population grew by 14.9% (2,076 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2] Hijuelas hosts 1.04% of the region's population.
The principal economic activities in Hijuleas areagronomy and agriculture, especially in the cultivation of flowers, plants, trees, and fruits such as avocados and citruses. Its cultivated land, irrigated by theAconcagua River, provides a high quality microclimate for exporting agricultural products. Also in Hijuelas exists a world-leading company in the production of ornamental bulbs and seeds, whose products are exported to various countries such asJapan, theNetherlands, and others.
As a commune, Hijuelas is a third-leveladministrative division of Chile, administered by amunicipal council, which is headed by a directly electedalcalde. The current alcalde is Verónica Rossat Arriagada. The communal council has the following members:[1]
Within theelectoral divisions of Chile, Hijuelas is represented in theChamber of Deputies by Eduardo Cerda (PDC) andAndrea Molina (UDI) as part of the 10th electoral district, (together withLa Ligua,Petorca,Cabildo,Papudo,Zapallar,Puchuncaví,Quintero,Nogales,Calera,La Cruz andQuillota).[needs update] The commune is represented in theSenate byIgnacio Walker Prieto (PDC) andLily Pérez San Martín (RN) as part of the 5th senatorial constituency (Valparaíso-Cordillera).[needs update]
